Vietnam's SIGMA warship catches the enemy by surprise.

News of Vietnam's order for four SIGMA warships from the Netherlands has been widely reported in foreign media. The modern coast guard vessels recently launched are also products of the Damen shipbuilding group, in cooperation with Vietnam.

Sigma-class battleship

With over 3,200km of coastline and a territorial sea and continental shelf spanning more than 1 million km2, protecting the sea is an extremely important strategic task for the Vietnamese Navy, and this also necessitates the development of the military shipbuilding industry.

The Dutch SIGMA ship model is a modular warship model that warrants study in modern shipbuilding technology. Cooperation in technology transfer, especially advanced defense technology from Western shipbuilding powers, is a very correct direction for Vietnam. This plan allows for the acquisition of modern technologies, while also facilitating the adoption of advanced military and defense technologies beyond Russia, potentially surprising potential adversaries.

The fundamental basis of the Sigma class of patrol and escort ships is the modular hull design with its internal technical components. Sigma is a method of structuring the hull by integrating 3D geometric modules. This is a completely new ship design method that allows for increasing the length and capabilities of Sigma ships to any limit. The Sigma designation is calculated based on the hull length. From this, the ship's technical and tactical characteristics can be calculated. Sigma 9113 is a ship 91m long and 13m wide, while Sigma 10513 is a ship 105m long and 13m wide.

The axe-shaped hull design is an evolution of the high-speed, low-displacement hull design by MARIN Teknikk AS from the 1970s.

Technical and tactical specifications of the frigate class:

Displacement: 1,692 tons. Length: 90.71 m (297.62 feet) Width: 13.02 m (42.72 feet) Waterline: 3.60 m (11.81 feet).

Hull propulsion:

- Two SEMT Pielstick 20PA6B STC engines providing 8910 kW of power with a lightweight Geislinger BE 72/20/125N + BF 110/50/2H powertrain for each engine (combined steel and composite powertrain).
- 4 x Caterpillar 3406C TA vehicle-mounted alternators, 350 kW each.
- 1 x Caterpillar 3304B Emergency Generator, 105 kW
- 2 x propeller shafts with five-bladed CP propellers from Rolls Royce Kamewa.

RENK ASL 94 gearbox.

2 x Renk ASL94 gearboxes with one-step shifting and hydraulically operated passively stabilizing shifting.

Speed:

Maximum speed: 28 knots (52 km/h)

Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h)

Fuel-efficient journey: 14 knots (26 km/h)

Operating range:

With a cruising speed of 18 knots (33 km/h): 3,600 Nm (6,700 km/h)

Economical cruising speed of 14 knots (26 km/h): 4,800 Nm (8,900 km/h)

Crew: 20, expandable to 80 including Marines or special forces.

The ship's combat command system and radars support its operations:

Fire control system: Thales Group TACTICOS with four electronic control panels for the fire control operators. Mk 3 2H.

Radar for reconnaissance, search, and target acquisition: MW08 3D phased array radar for monitoring, tracking, and tracking targets.

Target identification and friend-or-foe distinction device: Thales TSB 2525 Mk XA (in combination with MW08 reconnaissance radar)

Navigational radar: Sperry Marine BridgeMasterE ARPA

Fire control radar: LIROD Mk 2 radar for tracking, managing, and controlling fire.

Data Link: A system for linking and sharing operational and management data. LINK Y Mk 2 datalink.

Sonar: The sonar uses passive and active intermediate frequency sonar waves mounted on the hull of the Thales UMS 4132 Kingklip ASW.

Internal communication: Thales Communication's Fibre Optical Communications Network (FOCON) or EID's ICCS internal communication system allows for internal ship communication and connection to external communication systems via the system's communication control panel.

Satellite communication system: Nera F series system

Navigation and trajectory system: Raytheon Anschutz integrated compass and electronic charting system.

Stealth camouflage and electronic warfare system: Imtech UniMACs 3000 Integrated Bridge System Electronic warfare and decoy control for torpedoes and missiles.

ESM: Thales DR3000
ECM: Racal Scorpion 2L

Decoy: TERMA SKWS, using DLT-12T 130mm launchers mounted on both sides of the ship's deck.

Weapons and equipment:

Ship-to-air anti-aircraft missiles: 2 x MBDA Mistral TETRAL 4-missile launchers, positioned forward and aft of the ship.

Anti-ship missiles: 4 x MBDA Exocet MM40 Block II

Naval gun: Oto Melara 76 mm, at the bow.

2 Denel Vektor G12 20 mm anti-aircraft guns (License copy of GIAT M693/F2)

Torpedoes: Standard European EuroTorp 3A 244S Mode II/MU 90 torpedoes were used in two B515 twin torpedo tubes.

Air Force: A helipad for combat or rescue helicopters flying at sea, with a helicopter hangar.

Indonesia has possessed four Type 9113 frigates in operation since 2009 and, in August 2010, signed a contract to build a new PKR 105 frigate based on the SIGMA 10514 at the PT PAL Shipyard in Indonesia.

Morocco currently possesses two Sigma 9813 heavy escort vessels equipped with VLS and one SIGMA 10513 frigate.

The SIGMA shipbuilding system boasts practical advantages and an advanced design structure. Once modular shipbuilding technology is achieved, it's possible to continue building various types of light vessels based on the designed modules, integrating weapons and equipment manufactured in different countries.

The ship's control tower.

The bow of the ship.

Ship gunnery diagram.

Exocet NM40 anti-ship missile.

Launching anti-ship missiles.

According to Viettimes.vn